Death of Ahmed Jaber al-Qattan
Encyclopedia
Ahmed Jaber Ali al-Qattan was a 16 or 17-year-old Bahraini teenager who died in a hospital on 6 October 2011 after reportedly being hit in chest, abdomen and upper limb by bird pellet gunshots (prohibited against humans internationally) fired by Bahraini security forces during the 2011 Bahraini uprising
. Ministry of Interior stated that there was a gathering of 20 people in Abu Saiba
who blocked the roads and police men intervened to disperse them as authorized. Activists, however, began a series of large protests after his funeral.
that occurred across the Arab World following the self-immolation and eventual death of Mohammed Bouazizi in Tunisia, the mostly Shia population of Bahrain took to the streets demanding greater freedoms. The move was seen as potentially destabilising to the Sunni-led regime of Bahrain, following which a brutal government crackdown led to widespread suppressions of the Shia people across many sectors, epecially the medical field after the invasion of Bahrain by Gulf Cooperation Council soldiers led by Saudi Arabia. The Bahraini government also hired Pakistani mercenaries
to maintain security against the protesters, however, lesser intermittent protests continued.
, the country's largest opposition party, and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights gave the boy's age as 16; the government put his age at 17.
, Bahrain
which started on late night of 6 October. The government's Information Affairs Authority said the area where Jaber was in, Abu Saiba
, west of Manama
, saw clashes that evening. It said youths blocked roads and set fire to rubbish bins and police fired tear gas and sound grenades when they were attacked with rocks and petrol bombs.
An anonymous witness who was protesting with Ahmed said in an interview with Bahrain Mirror (opposition online newspaper): "We were 70 protesters and Ahmed was in the front, we were ambushed by security forces. They were standing only 10 meters away from us, they didn't use tear gas or rubber bullets, they used bird pellet gunshots directly. Ahmed was injured in the chest and another protester who was behind him injured in the abdomen. He was trying to protect protesters behind him, we ran back to hide. Ahmed ran for a short distance then fell, he called his friend "Ahmed, hold me, I want to breathe". Those were his last words". He added: "A young protester was hiding behind a building rushed to Ahmed as he fell and carried him. With other protesters we carried him through farms to avoid being chased by police. At first we didn't know what to do, so I tweeted specific people like Al Wefaq
and some human rights activists. The first to respond was Yousif Al-Mahafdha (member of BCHR) who contacted some medics. Medics came, but they found no pulse and requested taking Ahmed to a hospital. At Bahrain International hospital (located in Jidhafs area of the capital, and sits along Budaiya Highway) medics from the hospital attached medical instruments to Ahmed and after 15 minutes announced that he is dead and asked us to leave fast to avoid arrest. Human rights activist Yousif Al-Mahafdha was the first to announce the death of Ahmed from Bahrain international hospital."
After his death, Ahmed's body was moved to Bahrain International hospital where he was initially examined. Later it was moved to Salmaniya
hospital morgue for an autopsy. Ahmed's older brother was told by young male to attend at Bahrain International hospital. At the hospital, without explaining anything to his bother, Ahmed's body was taken to Salmaniya
hospital morgue. For 20 minutes Ahmed's brother was stopped by security forces from getting into the morgue where Ahmed's body was. After a while he tried again, but this time a National Security Agency
officer yelled at him. When Ahmed's brother explained that he's only trying to see his brother's body and security shouldn't act this way. The officer responded with "I'm a soldier and I can do whatever I want with you right now if you don't stop attempting to get in". Later, a policeman in civilian clothes spoke to the family. He told them that Ahmed died a natural death, his chest doesn't contain bird pellet gunshots and that his body is completely clean from any injures. Then he asked the family to bring him some of Ahmed's clothes in order to investigate the cause of his death. The Family wasn't allowed to see the body until next morning when they received it.
Fortunately for the family, one of the lawyers responded to their cries on Twitter
and came along with a lawyer from Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
. Security forces allowed Al-jeshy and his companion to enter the morgue, where the Public Prosecutor announced that the direct cause of death was due to injury by bird pellet gunshots which went through Ahmed's body into his heart and caused a severe bleeding.
, an official governmental website said that Ahmed died by police birdshot.
On 8 October, two days after Ahmed's death, Nawaf Al-Awadi, the attorney general of the northern governorate stated that police did not use bird pellet gunshots while depressing protesters in Abu Saiba
that night and that the gunshots found in Ahmed's body do not match those used by Ministry of Interior. Al-Awadi also stated that the investigations are still on-going to find the persons who carried the body to the hospital to investigate with them.
Shi'ite activists said Jaber died from bird-shot pellets and distributed a photo of his body in a morgue. "(He) was shot by the security forces at close proximity during a protest with the pellet shotgun, which seems to have penetrated his heart and/or lung and caused his death," said Maryam Alkhawaja
of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) in a statement. Al Wefaq
party, the biggest shia opposition party said in a statement: "Security forces have killed the boy Ahmed al-Qattan after shooting him with the internationally prohibited pellet shotgun (..) many people who are injured due to use of force by security forces are afraid to go to hospitals, because they might be arrested there."
was held afternoon on 7 October. Security forces sat up roadblocks to prevent people from attending the funeral, yet thousands of people attended the funeral which is thought to be one of the largest in months. At least 10,000 people joined the funeral march for Qattan through the villages of Shakoora, Janusan and Karana
, many carrying the red and white flags of Bahrain and chanting, "We will redeem you, Bahrain" and "Down with Hamad," a reference to King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, whose family has ruled the island monarchy for nearly 200 years. Qattan was to be buried in Shakoora, his home town.
After the funeral hundreds of mourners marched towards Burgerland roundabout where police forces were present heavily. Security forces opened fire with tear gas, sound grenades and rubber bullets, injuring at least 11 protesters, activists said. A few people in the crowd threw stones at the authorities. More injuries were expected, though the chaotic scene around a makeshift clinic near the clashes made it impossible to verify the number, Al Jazeera
's reporter in Bahrain said.
Al Jazeera
correspondent witnessed three men bearing bleeding wounds thought to have been caused by rubber bullets, while another man had suffered a severe facial injury after being hit by a sound grenade. by night calm had been restored to the capital.
Ministry of Interior said "A group of vandals blocked Budaiya road after funeral of Ahmed Jaber, which led to interference of security forces to bring situation to normal".
On 10 October, 3 days after Ahmed's funeral, where the final mourning rituals were supposed to be held in Shakoora, security forces blocked all the roads leading to Shakoora to prevent people from participating in the mourning rituals. Al Jazeera
reported that security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets on tens of protesters who were trying to start a demonstration after the end of mourning rituals and that some protesters were arrested.
2011 Bahraini uprising
The 2011 Bahraini uprising, sometimes called the February 14 Revolution is a series of demonstrations, amounting to a sustained campaign of civil resistance, in the Persian Gulf country of Bahrain...
. Ministry of Interior stated that there was a gathering of 20 people in Abu Saiba
Abu Saiba
Abu Saiba is a village in the north of Bahrain. It is inhabited mostly by Shia Baharna....
who blocked the roads and police men intervened to disperse them as authorized. Activists, however, began a series of large protests after his funeral.
Background
As part of a string of protestsArab Spring
The Arab Spring , otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, 18 December 2010...
that occurred across the Arab World following the self-immolation and eventual death of Mohammed Bouazizi in Tunisia, the mostly Shia population of Bahrain took to the streets demanding greater freedoms. The move was seen as potentially destabilising to the Sunni-led regime of Bahrain, following which a brutal government crackdown led to widespread suppressions of the Shia people across many sectors, epecially the medical field after the invasion of Bahrain by Gulf Cooperation Council soldiers led by Saudi Arabia. The Bahraini government also hired Pakistani mercenaries
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
to maintain security against the protesters, however, lesser intermittent protests continued.
Age
Al WefaqAl Wefaq
Al Wefaq National Islamic Society , also known as the Islamic National Accord Association, is a Bahraini political society, and the largest party in the Bahrain, both in terms of its membership and its results at the polls...
, the country's largest opposition party, and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights gave the boy's age as 16; the government put his age at 17.
Death
A number of protesters took part in a demonstration in Abu SaibaAbu Saiba
Abu Saiba is a village in the north of Bahrain. It is inhabited mostly by Shia Baharna....
, Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
which started on late night of 6 October. The government's Information Affairs Authority said the area where Jaber was in, Abu Saiba
Abu Saiba
Abu Saiba is a village in the north of Bahrain. It is inhabited mostly by Shia Baharna....
, west of Manama
Manama
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 155,000 people.Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population...
, saw clashes that evening. It said youths blocked roads and set fire to rubbish bins and police fired tear gas and sound grenades when they were attacked with rocks and petrol bombs.
An anonymous witness who was protesting with Ahmed said in an interview with Bahrain Mirror (opposition online newspaper): "We were 70 protesters and Ahmed was in the front, we were ambushed by security forces. They were standing only 10 meters away from us, they didn't use tear gas or rubber bullets, they used bird pellet gunshots directly. Ahmed was injured in the chest and another protester who was behind him injured in the abdomen. He was trying to protect protesters behind him, we ran back to hide. Ahmed ran for a short distance then fell, he called his friend "Ahmed, hold me, I want to breathe". Those were his last words". He added: "A young protester was hiding behind a building rushed to Ahmed as he fell and carried him. With other protesters we carried him through farms to avoid being chased by police. At first we didn't know what to do, so I tweeted specific people like Al Wefaq
Al Wefaq
Al Wefaq National Islamic Society , also known as the Islamic National Accord Association, is a Bahraini political society, and the largest party in the Bahrain, both in terms of its membership and its results at the polls...
and some human rights activists. The first to respond was Yousif Al-Mahafdha (member of BCHR) who contacted some medics. Medics came, but they found no pulse and requested taking Ahmed to a hospital. At Bahrain International hospital (located in Jidhafs area of the capital, and sits along Budaiya Highway) medics from the hospital attached medical instruments to Ahmed and after 15 minutes announced that he is dead and asked us to leave fast to avoid arrest. Human rights activist Yousif Al-Mahafdha was the first to announce the death of Ahmed from Bahrain international hospital."
After his death, Ahmed's body was moved to Bahrain International hospital where he was initially examined. Later it was moved to Salmaniya
Salmaniya
Salmaniya is a neighborhood of Manama, Bahrain that houses the largest hospital in Bahrain, Salmaniya Medical Complex .Also, other private hospitals operate within the vicinity such as the Royal Bahrain Hospital....
hospital morgue for an autopsy. Ahmed's older brother was told by young male to attend at Bahrain International hospital. At the hospital, without explaining anything to his bother, Ahmed's body was taken to Salmaniya
Salmaniya
Salmaniya is a neighborhood of Manama, Bahrain that houses the largest hospital in Bahrain, Salmaniya Medical Complex .Also, other private hospitals operate within the vicinity such as the Royal Bahrain Hospital....
hospital morgue. For 20 minutes Ahmed's brother was stopped by security forces from getting into the morgue where Ahmed's body was. After a while he tried again, but this time a National Security Agency
National Security Agency (Bahrain)
The National Security Agency or National Security Apparatus is an investigating authority in Bahrain that is associated with but not formally part of the Ministry of the Interior. The NSA was formed after King Hamad issued Decree No...
officer yelled at him. When Ahmed's brother explained that he's only trying to see his brother's body and security shouldn't act this way. The officer responded with "I'm a soldier and I can do whatever I want with you right now if you don't stop attempting to get in". Later, a policeman in civilian clothes spoke to the family. He told them that Ahmed died a natural death, his chest doesn't contain bird pellet gunshots and that his body is completely clean from any injures. Then he asked the family to bring him some of Ahmed's clothes in order to investigate the cause of his death. The Family wasn't allowed to see the body until next morning when they received it.
Fortunately for the family, one of the lawyers responded to their cries on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
and came along with a lawyer from Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry also known locally in Bahrain as Bassiouni Commission was established by the King of Bahrain on 29 June 2011 tasked with looking into the incidents that occurred during the period of unrest in Bahrain in February and March 2011 and the consequences of...
. Security forces allowed Al-jeshy and his companion to enter the morgue, where the Public Prosecutor announced that the direct cause of death was due to injury by bird pellet gunshots which went through Ahmed's body into his heart and caused a severe bleeding.
Aftermath
At first ministry of interior stated that Ahmed Jaber died from severe respiratory and blood flow problems after he was received in hospital without saying what caused this. In another statement the ministry stated that they're launching an investigation into the incident after the report of the medical examiner of the Public Prosecution attributed the death to injury by bird pellet gunshots, but have not described under what circumstance Jaber was fatally wounded. The statement said that legal procedures would be taken according to the results of the investigation. Moreover, Bahrain News AgencyBahrain News Agency
The Bahrain News Agency is the state news agency of Bahrain. It is run under the Bahraini Ministry of Culture and Information.BNA is a member of the Federation of Arab News Agencies.-External links:* *...
, an official governmental website said that Ahmed died by police birdshot.
On 8 October, two days after Ahmed's death, Nawaf Al-Awadi, the attorney general of the northern governorate stated that police did not use bird pellet gunshots while depressing protesters in Abu Saiba
Abu Saiba
Abu Saiba is a village in the north of Bahrain. It is inhabited mostly by Shia Baharna....
that night and that the gunshots found in Ahmed's body do not match those used by Ministry of Interior. Al-Awadi also stated that the investigations are still on-going to find the persons who carried the body to the hospital to investigate with them.
Shi'ite activists said Jaber died from bird-shot pellets and distributed a photo of his body in a morgue. "(He) was shot by the security forces at close proximity during a protest with the pellet shotgun, which seems to have penetrated his heart and/or lung and caused his death," said Maryam Alkhawaja
Maryam Alkhawaja
Maryam Abdulhadi Alkhawaja is a Bahraini human rights defenders. She is the daughter of the prominent Bahraini human rights defender Abdulhadi Alkhawaja and head of the foreign relations office for Bahrain Center for Human Rights.-Early life:Maryam's was born in Syria to then-exiled Abdulhadi...
of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) in a statement. Al Wefaq
Al Wefaq
Al Wefaq National Islamic Society , also known as the Islamic National Accord Association, is a Bahraini political society, and the largest party in the Bahrain, both in terms of its membership and its results at the polls...
party, the biggest shia opposition party said in a statement: "Security forces have killed the boy Ahmed al-Qattan after shooting him with the internationally prohibited pellet shotgun (..) many people who are injured due to use of force by security forces are afraid to go to hospitals, because they might be arrested there."
Funeral and protests
The funeral processionFuneral procession
A funeral procession is a procession, usually in motor vehicles, from a church, synagogue, or mosque to the cemetery. The deceased is usually transported in a hearse, while family and friends follow in their vehicles.- Standard procedure :...
was held afternoon on 7 October. Security forces sat up roadblocks to prevent people from attending the funeral, yet thousands of people attended the funeral which is thought to be one of the largest in months. At least 10,000 people joined the funeral march for Qattan through the villages of Shakoora, Janusan and Karana
Karana
Karana may refer to:*Karana dance, poses in classical Indian dance*Karana, the main character in Scott O'Dell's novel Island of the Blue Dolphins, who is based on the historical Juana Maria*Karrana, a village in Bahrain...
, many carrying the red and white flags of Bahrain and chanting, "We will redeem you, Bahrain" and "Down with Hamad," a reference to King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, whose family has ruled the island monarchy for nearly 200 years. Qattan was to be buried in Shakoora, his home town.
After the funeral hundreds of mourners marched towards Burgerland roundabout where police forces were present heavily. Security forces opened fire with tear gas, sound grenades and rubber bullets, injuring at least 11 protesters, activists said. A few people in the crowd threw stones at the authorities. More injuries were expected, though the chaotic scene around a makeshift clinic near the clashes made it impossible to verify the number, Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
's reporter in Bahrain said.
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
correspondent witnessed three men bearing bleeding wounds thought to have been caused by rubber bullets, while another man had suffered a severe facial injury after being hit by a sound grenade. by night calm had been restored to the capital.
Ministry of Interior said "A group of vandals blocked Budaiya road after funeral of Ahmed Jaber, which led to interference of security forces to bring situation to normal".
On 10 October, 3 days after Ahmed's funeral, where the final mourning rituals were supposed to be held in Shakoora, security forces blocked all the roads leading to Shakoora to prevent people from participating in the mourning rituals. Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
reported that security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets on tens of protesters who were trying to start a demonstration after the end of mourning rituals and that some protesters were arrested.
Local and International responses
- Former Al Wefaq MP Matar Matar said that: "There was a great sense of outrage today. The government claims they will investigate the death and that an independent commission of monitors has been formed, but the injuries and deaths continue to happen. Woman and children must be careful." The party issued a statement reading: "The martyrdom of young Jaber falls under the systematic oppression of those demanding democracy in Bahrain."
- Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Director of Amnesty InternationalAmnesty InternationalAmnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
’s Middle East and North Africa Programme, said: "The tragic death of Ahmed al-Jaber al-Qatan must be independently investigated and those responsible must be brought to justice. If it is found that security forces have opened fire on peaceful protesters when they were not in a life threatening situation, that would be yet again another unacceptable case of excessive use of force."
See also
- Death of Ali Jawad al-SheikhDeath of Ali Jawad al-SheikhAli Jawad al-Sheikh was a 14-year-old Bahraini who died in hospital on 31 August 2011 after reportedly being hit in the head by a tear gas canister shot by Bahraini security forces during the 2011 Bahraini uprising. The Bahraini government denied security force involvement in his death and offered...
- Death of Ali Abdulhadi MushaimaDeath of Ali Abdulhadi MushaimaAli Abdulhadi Mushiama was a 21-year-old Bahraini who died in hospital on the evening of Monday, 14 February 2011 after reportedly being hit in the back by bird pellet gunshots fired from short distance by Bahraini security forces during the 2011 Bahraini uprising...
- Death of Hamza Ali Al-KhateebDeath of Hamza Ali Al-KhateebHamza Ali Al-Khateeb was a 13-year-old Syrian boy who died while in the custody of the Syrian government in Daraa during the 2011 Syrian uprising. On April 29, 2011, he was detained during a protest...